Consider Personal Influences: What personal values, bias/prejudice, or counter-transference may be affecting the counselor’s perception?

The client continues to repeat behavior of giving "just a brief update" when she sees the counselor at church meetings. It seems the counselor has made several attempts to advise these updates occur in the context of counseling. As the behavior continues to repeat, then something else may be going on here for the client (i.e. transference) as well as for the counselor (i.e. counter-transference). If the counselor begins to feel irritated or concerned about the client, then these feelings could begin to affect (or may already be affecting) the counselor's perception. (sd)


I'm wondering if the counselor's ineffectiveness in conveying the boundaries to her client may have something to do with the counselor's fear of offending people. As we discussed on Sunday, this would be pure speculation...(Michael)